Precipitating apparatus.



Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. E. GREENAWALT.

PRBGIPITATENG APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 3. 1905.

UHHVHSIHY, ILLILUTHIUAL L WAVE ENERGY. 257

. @wi/Gmac@ l 20A. GHEMisTRY, ELEmmuAL E WAVE ENERGY.

J. EL GREENAWALT. PREGIPITATNG APIARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 3, 1905.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l Ich.

THE Nmzms PETERS comwAsHmafoN, n, c.

204. CHEMISTRY, ELECTRICAL & Vl/.AVE ENERGY.

JOHN E. GREENAWALT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PRECIPITATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed April 3, 1905. Serial N o. 253,622.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. GREENAWALT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Precipitatin Apparatus;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for precipitatingmetallic values from their solutions, being especially adapted for theprecipitation of gold and silver from chlorin or other solutions butbeing more especially intended for use where chlorin is used in theleaching process for dissolving the metallic values.

The apparatus consists of one or more cells each of which is providedwith a perforated diaphragm located in its lower portion upon which isplaced a mass of lead shavings provided with a small proportion of zincalloy, say from one-half of one per cent. to one per cent. In the upperpart of each cell is suspended a porous jar containing the anode elementof the electrolytic cell; the aforesaid mass of lead shavings with itsalloy zinc, forming the cathode element. The positive wire of anelectrical source is connected with the anode element; while thenegative wire of the source is connected with the cathode element. As aconvenience in connecting the negative conductor with the cathodeelement, a metal ring isplaced upon the perforated diaphragm beneath thelead shavings.

The solution containing the metal values to be precipitated, isintroduced to the cell below the perforated diaphragm and caused to passupwardly therethrough, through the mass of lead shavings and if desiredout at the top into a conduit leading to the lower part of another cellthrough which the solu tion is passed. In this way the solution may bepassed through any desired number of precipitating cells.

In carrying out the process in connection with this apparatus, theelectric current is passed through the solution in the oppositedireftion from the passage ofthe solution itsel Having briefly outlinedmy improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detailreference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustratedan embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section takenthrough a number of cells connected in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of theperforated diaphragm or Hoor employed in connection with the cells. Fig.4 is a detail view of a ring employed in connection with the cell.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let A, B, and O designate three precipitating cells which are connectedin such a manner that the solution to be treated may be passed throughthe same in succession. In the lower part of each of these cells isplaced a porous Hoor or diaphragm 2. Upon this floor is placed a mass ofmetal shavings 3 preferably lead shavings provided with an alloy of fromone-half of one per cent. to one per cent. of zinc. This mass of metalshavings constitutes the cathode element of the electrolytic cell.

In the upper part of each cell is suspended a porous jar 8 by means ofrods D which rest upon the tops of the cells as best illustrated in Fig.2. Within each of these cells is placed an anode element 7 preferablycomposed of carbon. The positive wire 6 of an electrical source isconnected with each anode element; while the negative wire 9 of thesource is connected with the cathode element. In order to form propercontact with the wire 9, the metal ring forming an electrode is locatedon the perforated floor. The wire` 9 is directly connected with thisring in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 4, as by coiling the wirearound the ring. The metal shavings being in direct contact with thering, a good electrical connection is made between the wire and thecathode element. Each jar 8 is partially immersed in the solution of thecell when the latter is in use. Each jar also contains a quantity ofliquid, to facilitate the passage of the electric current through thejar into the solution. Each jar is provided with ears 10 on oppositesides through which the rods D pass.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improvedapparatus Eicon will be readily understood. The solution Gr from theleaching tank (not shown), is delivered to thc cell A by a conduit 1,the solution entering the cell below the perforated fioor 2. The sourceof supply with which the pipe 1 is connected, is located sufficientlyabove the cell A to cause the liquid to travel upwardly in the cell, thesolution lirst passing through the perforated Hoor, and then upwardlythrough the metal shavings. If a number of cells is used in connectionwith each other, this liquid will overflow and pass out into a conduit1a connected with the upper part of the cell. This last named conduitenters the cell B below the perforated floor and the solution passesupwardly through the cell B in the same manner as heretofore explainedwith reference to the cell A. The solution may be taken from the upperpart of the cell B and delivered through a conduit 1, to a cell C, theliquid being` delivered below the perforated iioor in the same manner asin the other cells. In this way the liquid may be made to travel fromthe bottom of each cell upwardly, any desired number of cells beingemployed. The solution after passing through the last cell of theseries, passes out of a conduit 1d and may be delivered to any desiredlocation.

Simultaneously with the passage ofthe solution through the various cellsfrom the bottom upwardly, the electric current en ters each cell by thepositive wire 6 passing first through the anode element, thence throughthe porous jar, thence through the solution contained in the cell, tothe cathode element and thence out through the negative wire 9 to theother pole of the source.

It is preferred to heat the solution to a temperature of one hundred andthirty degrees Fahrenheit or greater since the precipitation of thevalues is facilitated by this step. The process of precipitation,however, herein described, is not claimed in this application but by anapplication tiled April 3rd, 1905, Serial No. 253,621.

By virtue of the process heretofore eX- plained, the metallic values areprecipitated as a black pulverulent slime consisting principally oflead, silver and gold which is readily melted into bullion and the metalseparated. The lead is then also melted, a suitable amount of zincadded, and cut into shavings when it is again ready for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a precipitating apparatus, the combination of a cell having aperforated floor located therein and supported above the bottom thereof,a mass of shavings cut from an alloy of lead and zinc supported by thefloor and forming a cathodeelement, a porous jar suspended from the topof the cell and projecting thereinto, the said jar being provided withan anode element, suitable electrical connections with the anode andcathode elements, and means for introducing the'solution to be treatedinto the cell below the perforated floor and forcing the solutionupwardly through the said floor and through the metal shavings thereof-in a direction opposite the passage of the electrical current throughthe cell, substantially as described.

2. In a precipitating apparatus, the combination of a cell having aperforated floor located therein and supported above the bottom thereof,a mass of metal shavings cut from an alloy of VYlead/ arid ]incsupported by the floor and foriiiing a cathode element, an anode elementsuspended from the top and projecting into the electrolyte of the same,suitable electrical connections with the anode and cathode elements, andmeans for introducing a solution to be treated into the cell below theperforated floor and forcing the solution upwardly through the saidiioor and through the metal shavings thereon in a direction opposite tothat of the electric current through the cell, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a precipitating apparatus, the combination of a cell provided witha perforated floor mounted above the bottom, a metallic sponge or massof metallic shavings formed from an alloy of lead and Zinc mounted on`the perforated floor, a porous jar suspended from the top of the celland projecting thereinto, means for passing the solution to beprecipitated through the floor and metallic shavings or sponge, andmeans for passing an electric current through the porous jar into thesolution and then into and among the metallic sponge, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a precipitating apparatus, the combination of a cell provided witha perforated floor mounted above the bottom and dividing the cell intoan upper and lower compartment, a metallic sponge or mass of metallicshavings mounted upon the perforated floor,and the same having been cutfrom an alloy of lead and Zinc, a porous jar suspended from the top ofthe cell and projecting thereinto, means for introducing a solution intothe lower chamber and thence through the metallic sponge, and means forintroducing an electrical current through the porous jar into thesolution and then into and among the metallic sponge, the metallicsponge constituting the cathode of the arrangement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. GBEENAVALT.

Vitnesses DENA NELSON,

. J. OBRIEN.

